Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for March 13, 2014

Is this boy deep or what?

If it’s not manufactured, how did it get there? Even a two story house comes in about four big chunks…

A house is a house. A home is where people live. A tent can be a home.

I wonder if we’re ever going to get an explanation as to why Meg is suddenly an adult when she was a child a few months ago? This hasn’t made any sense at all this week.

She’s not an adult, she’s standing on a chair in panel 1. I think she just isn’t being portrayed as juvenile as she usually is.

Like most kids when around her peers she acts much older then with adults.

Geez, her hair is different and she’s waring a sweater, so now she looks what, 50?.Sometimes kids do get a growth spurt, ya know..There were those who were complaining we didn’t hear about Gene, and now that we have a story on Gene, they’re complaining about how the kid looks..Just enjoy what is being presented.

A & J lookked different over the years, too; get a gripp.Gone South? I really do hope that’s a clever reference to the geographic clues we’ve gotten lately! As always, the strip is great – as long we don’t see the stupid cat.What we’re getting the last few days may well be set-up for G & M to take in Skeeter……….just sayin.

I agree with Doctor Toon in that I hope people are just joking. Meg hasn’t aged in years, it’s past time she get older. Mr. Johnson continues to produce one of the best strips out there. After all these years I, for one, am more than willing to trust his judgement. In other words, chill out.

What’s up with the plus signs (“++”) for Skeeter’s eyes? That used to be how cartoonists depicted dead people.

I agree! A & J is the BEST comic strip around and I am thrilled to see Meg again even if she does look older. And I love the “stupid” cat too — he reminds me so much of my babies and always makes me smile. Keep up the good work Jimmy!

Manufactured Home: dysfunctional family is not a factory-installed option.

We’re seeing her as she sees herself.

What’s up with that dudes eyes?

Yeah, Susie, I was going to mention the “Crankshaft” gang as the snarkiest bunch I’ve seen. Wouldn’t want even to look at “Funky Winkerbean,” because the Crankshaft commenters say nasty things about it and its (and Crankshaft’s) creator.

AshburnStadium: There was a time in which you could mail order a house from Sears, Roebuck. They had everything from a two-bedroom bungalow to a three-story mansion. You had the foundation constructed and got a boxcar load of numbered, pre-cut lumber which you could put it together yourself or use a local contractor. Many of them are still in use.

Anyone who has to stand on a chair to operate a microwave probably isn’t old enough to be operating it safely. Unless they are a midget . . . . I mean Little Person.

Well said, Doc. The whining and complaining on here about the strip is obnoxious and useless. Mr. Johnson draws this strip according to what’s in his mind’s eye. If folks don’t like his drawing, his story arcs or his characters then they can just waddle off and read B.C.

There’s one thing that needs to be said. While Jimmy needs time to get the image of Meg and her friends fine-tuned, I’m sure that he WANTS to know how the readers are reacting to her new look. There’s no need to protect him — he’s a pro.

I’m thinking that he would rather know and react accordingly than lose readership for whatever reason in a hostile time and uncertain future for syndicated comics.

So — don’t be snarky — you’re seldom as funny and clever as you think you are in your responses, but feedback is good, even if you have problems with a character. No hall monitors necessary.

For all of you who say “If you don’t like ALL of this strip, just leave…”

This is a visual art. How people react to it determine if they stay with it. This is not a club or a charity. It is the syndicated comic business. If your popularity dips, contracts do not get signed. If you fall below a certain level — you are no longer syndicated.

It is NOT up to you who or how many people stay “loyal” to this strip. It isn’t even a matter of loyalty. It’s a business, pure and simple. And a cartoonist may have a vison, but they stay in touch with the public who reads their strip — so that they can stay doing what they love.

Honestly — Jimmy Johnson has bills like the rest of us. Let him get some feedback and become real readers, not groupies!

I’m pointing out that there is a large area where feedback is valuable. Nobody who becomes a comic artist can afford to be thin-skinned — art in general and comics, specifically are not easy to make a living doing — and live with the critics. You annot and should not rush to protect these folks from any perceived criticism. I give Jimmy a WHOLE lot of credit on this.

However, if this image of Meg and her BFF Skeeter is NOT working, he needs to know ASAP. It does not look like a couple of hypercritical comments on that surfaced. People adjusted badly to this jump. I’m sorry to say that I enjoyed dinner with a person who resembles the new Meg with the hacked off hair and right down to her cardigan. And truly — she is about 67 and I hate looking at a kid who reminds me of an old lady friend of mine.

Stop acting like if we are “mean to him” that Jimmy is going to take his crayons home and not draw for us any more. Because he won’t. He is — as I said — a pro. It is much more likely that the syndicate — in its infinite wisdom, will try to jettison this trip becasue Baby Boomers love it so — and they have a stupid idea that we are a useless demographic and don’t buy anything. Let’s make sure he keeps his place to draw for us.

…Are we enjoying now??….

Hear! Hear! I could not have said it better!